How can I make an afro hairstyle for my cloth dolls?

[lazy.jane]

Hello everyone,

I have made a few cloth dolls recently and I just use wool for the hair which I stitch on. It turns out very nicely and I'm quite happy with it, but I have an idea for a doll that I want to make with an afro hairstyle and I wasn't sure if I could achieve this with wool.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I could use to make afro doll hair...or is there something that I could do to regular wool to change its texture so that it was suitable? I'm thinking along the lines of a 'Foxy Cleopatra' from Austin Powers style, so if anyone had any suggestions then I'd be really grateful.

Thank you so much,

Lesley xx

[Tailte]

Hmm... I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it would work. This doll has sort of an afro alreadyhttp://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=303970.0  The hair is made with yarn, and I think you could make it like that and then tease or backcomb the yarn into a more of a fluffy afro type thing. This is the way I did her hair: First I separated the yarn into single strands and then cut it to the length I wanted, I got about three or four strands and folded them in half and tied a knot. I made lots of these and then glued them all over the head (so the hair is really thick). This takes a heck of a long time. I don't know if any of that made sense as it's hard to describe without pictures.

[elottino]

You could use wool roving and needle felt it into a cloth head.  It is pretty secure, but would come out if pulled hard enough.  I was trying to do spikes for a doll, and came up with this afro instead.  I then pulled it all out.
 

[Shadesofme]

If you don't have wool roving, a similar style can be made by brushing yarn to a fluff.

[howprettyful]

Hairspray!! 

lol jk

Perhaps u could try pulling the hair out outta those troll dolls? Depending on how big it is, though...U probably wouldnt wanna waste ur money on allllll those trolls...

[lazy.jane]

Great ideas everyone, thank you so much for replying!
I have some felting needles but have never used them before - does the stuffing have to be of a certain type before it will 'catch'?
I also have a load of black wool so I will go to work on that today...I predict I will be covered in fluff before the day is out!
If it works out I'll be sure to post some pictures.
Thank you again xx

[elottino]

When I've needle felted hair, it catches to the fabric, not the stuffing inside.  That's why it's not the most permanent solution.  Hopefully you like the results and definitely post pics!